Argyreia bella (C.B. Clarke) Raizada, Proc. Natl. Inst. Sci.

P. R., Lawand & Shimpale, V. B., 2024, Revision of the genus Argyreia (Convolvulaceae) from India, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 337-396 : 346-349

5. Argyreia bella (C.B. Clarke) Raizada, Proc. Natl. Inst. Sci. India, B 24: 200. 1958. Lettsomia bella

C.B. Clarke, Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4:192. 1883.

Lectotype [designated by Shalini et al., 2015:392]: INDIA, [Jharkhand] Bundgao in Singhbhoom, Chhota Nagpore , 2000 ft, 28.10.1873, C. B. Clarke

20452A (K [K000830701 digital image!); isolecto

C.B. Clarke 20452E (CAL0000018485!). Fig. 3a–d

A white tomentose climber. Stem, older, semiwoody, glabrous, while the younger stem white tomentose, terete. Leaf lamina 12–14 × 6–8 cm, ovate to widely ovate, base cordate, apex acute, secondary veins 8–10 pairs raised beneath, white sericeous–tomentose below, glabrous above; petiole tomentose like stem, 6–9 cm long, usually longer than the peduncle. Inflorescence axillary 5–10 flowered compact cyme; peduncle white tomentose 4–6 cm long. Flowers shortly bracteate, pedicellate; pedicel c. 5–7 mm long; bracts 2, 3–5 mm long, ovate, early caducous, green, white tomentose. Calyx polysepalous; sepals 5, sericeous-tomentose outer, glabrous inside, sub-equal in length, 0.9–1.2 cm long, ovate, apex obtuse, sepals in fruiting turn red inside. Corolla campanulate, 2–2.5 × 2 cm, pink to pale purple, hairy on midpetaline bands. Stamens 5, exserted, subequal 2.5–3 cm long; filaments white; anthers pale pink, c. 4 mm long. Ovary glabrous; style single; stigma biglobose, papillate, white. Berries 0.8–1 cm across, scarlet red papery epicarp, enclosed with persistent calyx, 2–4-seeded. Seeds c. 5 mm long, black with visible hilum.

Flowering & Fruiting: Flowering from August to October and fruiting from October to January.

Habitat: It frequently occurs at open places in a forest.

Distribution: Endemic to India: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.

Etymology:The specific epithet “ bella ” in diminutive of the word Isabella meaning a beautiful. The specific epithet formed cause of beautiful flowers and fruits of the plant.

Specimens examined: INDIA. Andhra Pradesh, Chittoor District, Horsley Hills , 17.07.1957, S. K. Wagh 46305 ( BLAT) . Bihar, Diriburu District ,

Fatuha R. F., 05.03.1961, G. V. Subba Rao 44920

(ASSAM); Diriburu District, Fatuha R.F.,

05.03.1961, G. V. Subba Rao 25005 (ASSAM) ;

Champaran District, way to someshwar to

Gobarghana, 16.11.1963, B. R . Shetty 523 (CAL);

Diriburu Dist, Fatuha R. F., 31.12.1960, G. V .

Subba Rao 22984 (CAL). Raigarh Chhattisgarh,

District, on the way to Pandrapat, 23.11.1971, G .

Sengupta 24727 (BSA); Bilaspur District, Jashpur

Nagar, 26.12.1964, G. Panigrahi & C. M. Arora 17800

(BSA); Jashpur District , Near Luikona, 03.06.2017 ,

Baikaatha 100321 (BSA); Jashpur District, Jashpur

Nagar, 14.10.2017, P. R . Lawand 004 (NCK).

Jharkhand, Singhbhum District , Chaibasa, Latna

Forest, March 1967, N. C . Mujawar 89 (CAL);

Chota Nagpore, Sundargarh, September 1896, D.

Prain 310785 (CAL); Chota Nagpore, Jashpore,

Surgaon, 2500 m, 06.11.1883, C. B . Clarke 34301A

(CAL); Chota Nagpore, Jashpore, Surgaon, 2500

m, 06.11.1883, C. B. Clarke 34301 B ( CAL); Chota

Nagpore, Ranchi, 1500 m, 22.10.1873, C. B. Clarke

21340 (CAL); Chota Nagpore, Singhbhoom,

Bundgao, 2000 m, 28.10.1873, C. B. Clarke 20452

(CAL). Madhya Pradesh, Bilaspur District,

Jashpurnagar, 26.12.1964, C. M . Arora 1737 (CAL).

Odisha, Balasore District, Bhanjabasan , 13.02.1958 ,

G. Panigrahi 15559 (ASSAM); Sundargarh District,

Kalta, Maghasini, 25.11.1987, A. Mukherjee & D .

Namnata 2824 (CAL).

Conservation status: The taxon is endemic to India and known from approximately 5 states in eastern India. Hence, the taxon has a larger extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO). Therefore, the IUCN category (2024), Least Concern (LC) can be assigned to the species.

Note: The species was originally published as Lettsomia bella by C.B. Clarke in the Flora of the British India. Later, Raizada transferred the name to Argyreia , creating the new combination A. bella (C.B. Clarke) Raizada. The species was earlier published as Lettsomia bella by C.B. Clarke in the Flora of the British India. Later, Raizada transferred the name to the Argyreia making new combination A. bella (C.B. Clarke) Raizada. However , as the publication appeared twice, the earlier one, in accordance with the rule of priority, is considered the correct combination.

The species shows affinities with A. osyrensis (Roth ex Roem. & Schult.) Choisy in terms of leaf shape, flower size, and plant body tomentum. It differs, however, in several characters, including the architecture of the inflorescence, bract shape and size, and sepal shape.

Figures

Fig. 3. Argyreia bella (C.B. Clarke) Raizada (a-d): a. Habit; b. A flower with exserted stamens and gynoecium; c. Sepals; d. Fruits. Argyreia bOSeana Santapau & V. Patel (e-h): e. Habit; f. Flower side view; g. Bracts; h. Sepals. Argyreia braCteata Choisy (i-l): i. Flowering twig; j. Leaf abaxial surface;k. Bracts;l. Sepals.